Melandri hoping early season nightmare is over

Italian Marco Melandri is hoping his early season nightmare is behind him as he focuses on breaking his 2007 MotoGP world championship podium duck in Shanghai.

Melandri has struggled so far on Honda’s new RC212V 800 machine and is yet to register a top four finish in the opening three rounds.

The former world 250 champion has not been shy at voicing his criticism at Honda’s surprisingly under-achieving new V4.

But he’s hoping a positive fifth place finish in the recent Turkish GP at the Istanbul Park will kick start his season going into the China clash on May 6, 2007.

“I felt the best I have done on the bike in Turkey and that has made me more confident for China,” said the Gresini rider, who currently sits fifth in the series standings on 30-points.

“Before the race in Turkey I was lost. I didn’t have the confidence to ride. It was a very strange situation and in the first two days we completely changed the bike but I couldn’t feel any difference.

“I couldn’t believe I was so slow. It has been a frustrating start to the season for me and normally I am angry when things go wrong because I know exactly what the problem is and how to solve it.

“But I haven’t been angry because I haven’t known what has been wrong. Honestly I haven’t felt so bad since I first came to MotoGP in 2003 with Yamaha.”